The motorist honked. They’d just turned their Honda left in front of an SUV crossing through an intersection. The SUV had the right-of-way, but couldn’t brake in time. The larger car collided with the Honda’s nose. Next, the SUV (correctly) pulled over. The sedan…didn’t. Instead, that driver honked “in annoyance.” They completed their left turn and moseyed down the road.

The thing is, this all happened in front of Pinal County Sheriff Deputy Frank Sloup.

At-fault driver says he didn’t feel anything hit him

“It’s your fault!” The deputy called over to the Honda after the honk, his arms raised.

When the driver kept going, though, the deputy seemed shocked. “Did they make contact?”

Once the hit-and-run is confirmed, the deputy puts the department’s factory-blue Dodge Charger on the Honda’s trail

As you might guess, it’s a pretty quick catch.

The Honda obliges, leading the Charger back to Deputy Sloup.

When Sloup approaches the driver, he questions the motorist’s decision to flee. Oddly, the driver says he didn’t feel anything when the SUV crossed his path.

“You didn’t feel you car make contact with another vehicle?” Sloup asks, a surprised expression on his face. “Oh, Okay.”

Then, Sloup silently walks around to the Honda’s front end. After checking the bumper, he bursts out laughing.

“Well, you did,” he tells the driver. “And then you left the scene.”

In Arizona, like any other state, leaving the scene of a crash is definitely a crime

If a driver turns left in front of another car that has the right-of-way, causes a collision, and drives off without stopping, they can be charged with a Class 2 misdemeanor. 

This applies when the hit-and-run results in vehicle damage but no injuries. The penalty can include up to four months in jail, a $750 fine, and possible suspension of the driver’s license. Police will also likely cite the driver for causing the crash, since they failed to yield.

Arizona requires all drivers involved in a crash to stop, give their name and insurance information, and assist if someone is injured. The Hamp Law Offices, based in the state, say that even if the driver leaves but later returns, they can still be charged.

The charge can escalate to a felony if someone is hurt or killed, but in a case involving only property damage, it remains a misdemeanor.

By the way, if you’re found guilty of a hit-and-run, your insurance company is still required to pay for whatever damage you caused to the other vehicle

Collision coverage helps cover the repairs, if you have it. But your premiums will likely skyrocket. Arizona drivers convicted of hit-and-run have seen rate increases of over 150%.

Some insurers might even cancel your policy altogether or just decline to renew it after a conviction.

If you only have liability insurance, though, you’ll probably have to pay out of pocket for your own vehicle’s damage.

That’s assuming you have liability coverage, of course. And you might guess that many drivers who pull a hit-and-run, like that Honda, might not have insurance or act out of worry over preexisting legal issues.

MotorBiscuit reached out to the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office via direct message with its TikTok account, @pinalcountysheriff, for comment.